Apparatus for high temperature dyeing



Oct. 12, 1965 c. BLOUNT, JR 3,

APPARATUS FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE DYEING Original Filed Jan. 10. 1961 4SheetsSheet 1 INVENTOR. CHARLES BLOU/VT, JR.

Oct. 12, 1965 c. BLOUNT, JR 3,210,970

APPARATUS FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE DYEING Original Filed Jan. 10. 1961 4Sheets-Sheet 3 F l G. 3 INVENTOR.

C Hnnzs BLauNT, JR.

A TTORIVE Y.

Oct. 12, 1965 c. BLOUNT, JR

APPARATUS FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE DYEING Original Filed Jan. 10. 1961 4Sheets-Sheet 4 FIGS.

INVENTOR. CHARLLJ BLou/vT, JR.

\ Z fl'r TORNEY.

be reduced appreciably-to the extent of 35% "known in the trade asnon-leveling of the dye.

United States Patent 3,210,970 APPARATUS FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE DYEINGCharles Blount, Jr., Westport, Conn., assignor to The United Piece DyeWorks, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Original applicationJan. 10, 1961, Ser. No. 81,780. Divided and this application July 9,1963, Ser. No. 327,568

3 Claims. (Cl. 68--177) This is a division of a copending patentapplication, Serial No. 81,780, filed January 10, 1961, for Method andApparatus of High Temperature Dyeing, and now abandoned.

The invention relates to an apparatus for effecting the dyeing ofsynthetic fibers and synthetic sheets or film, particularly as embodiedin a fabric which is composed,

for example, in Whole or in part of polyester fibers such as Dacron,Kodel, Vycron, etc.; or in a sheet or film composed, for example, ofsuch synthetic as Mylar sheeting.

In the art of dyeing these synthetics, it has long been recognized thata process, an apparatus for conducting the dyeing at relatively hightemperatures, was required. The advantage of utilizing such temperaturesis that the synthetics under these conditions have a greater afiinityfor the dye.

Thus, at atmospheric pressure and temperatures below 212 F., dyeing ofsynthetics of the aforesaid nature require a dyeing cycle of the orderof 25 hours6 hours of which being consumed in chemical treatment for theremoval of sizing waxes and oils added during the Weaving process offibers into fabric. This dyeing period may or more-by the addition ofchemical carriers to the dye bath. These carriers appear to carrydyestuif from an aqueous dispersion thereof to the fiber and thusdisturb the equilibrium between dye bath and fiber in favor of thedyestuif absorption by the synthetic fiber.

nection to develop such a high temperature process and suitableapparatus for carrying out the same. The most successful method to dateinvolves winding the fabric about a perforated cylinder and subjectingthe material to the dye under elevated temperature and pressureconditions while flowing the dye liquor through the fabric. The practicein'such operation has been to alternate the flow of the dye liquor,i.e., to flow said liquor in a tank through fabric from inside said tankto outside the fabric; and then reverse the flow pattern. This methodhas met with limited success only and for several reasons. Thus, extracaution must be observed to insure that the fabric wound about thecylinder is not creased, as otherwise the creases willbecome'permanently fixed during the dyeing operation. Furthermore, the

"tension of the Wind is critical, in that a too tight wind results inoverload of the power'source and conversely a 'too loose wind results indamage'to material. Also, there is a tendency for the fabric to becomeunevenly shaded along its length and width; the result of a conditionThis condition is due partly to the filtering action of the severallayers of cloththus only loosely woven cloth may be dyed by this methodand closely woven cloth cannot be so dyedpartly due to unevenpenetration of the dye in and around the fibers caused by the pressurecharacteristics of fluid fiow through layers of open Width fabric.Finally, a phenomenon referred to as moire occasionally occurs duringthe dyeing operation, with the result that the entire dyed fabric mustbe discarded or re-dyed.

Prior to this invention, it has also been believed that an apparatus fordyeing synthetic fabric at high temperature and under pressure inrelaxed rope strands would be prohibited not only in cost but also inpractical application. It was generally believed by those skilled in theart that fabric dyed under these conditions in relaxed rope strandswould show creases and breaks which would be impossible to remove insubsequent processing operations.

However, in accordance with the novel method of dyeing, in the case offabrics-which are constituted in whole or in part of synthetic fibers,as well as sheets and films of synthetic material, such as Dacron,Kodel, Vycron, Mylar, etc.it becomes possible to eliminate a pre-dyeingstep termed boil-off, which operation constitutes the removal of oilsand waxes as well as other deleterious substances added during, and tofacilitate, the weaving process except in the case of those fabricswhich require further treatment after dyeing to give Waterproofcharacteristics thereto.

I have found that high-temperature dyeing, in accordance with myinvention, that with the addition of a nonionic detergent to the dyebath, and while under high temperature, the oils and waxes becomeemulsified and are held in emulsion, which limits the amount that mayremain on the fabric, but are so distributed in evenness as not toaffect the dye absorption rate of each fibre due to spottyconcentrations of such oils and Waxes.

Furthermore, creases and breaks, normally occurring in materials whendyed according to present methods, are eliminated by the rapid passageof such material through the dye bath when the latter is maintained attemperatures substantially above 212 F.

Therefore it is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus forhigh temperature dyeing of synthetic fabric in which the fabric ispassed through the dye bath in a relaxed rope strand fashion.

It is another object to provide an apparatus for high temperature dyeingof synthetic fabrics in which the time required for accomplishing thesame is greatly reduced over the time required with known apparatuses.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improvedapparatus for dyeing synthetic fabrics in which the resort to the use ofcarriers is eliminated.

It is another object to provide an apparatus for high temperature dyeingof fabrics which may be composed either wholly or only in part of asynthetic fiber.

It is an object of the invention not only to obviate the possibility offormation of fixed creases in the fabric, but to reduce substantiallythe time required to effect the dyeing operationthrough elimination ofthe addition of chemical carriers, etc.

A further object of the invention is to provide high temperature dyeingmeans which permit (with certain modifications) .the use of standarddeveloped dyeing apparatus and allow therewith thedyeing of allsynthetics without limitation on the closeness of weave or on thequality of dye absorption and to provide leveling of dye uniformly.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision that the apparatuspermits synthetic fabric to be dyed by passing the same in the form ofrelaxed rope strand through a dye bath under conditions of elevatedtemperatures and at pressures above atmospheric without creasing orbreaking.

In carrying out the invention, the material to be dyed which may beconstituted wholely, or in part, of synthetic materials such as Dacron,Kodel, Vycron, Mylar, etc-is, contrary to present practice, to besupported for travel through an associated aqueous dye bath locatedwithin a pressure vessel and maintained at a temperature substantiallyin excess of 212 F. The interior of the pressure vessel to this end ismaintained under a substan- .tial pressure in order to assure during thedyeing period the required elevated temperature of the dye bath therein.

The nature of the invention, however, will best be understood whendescribed in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a transverse section, on an enlarged scale, through thepressure vessel with installed dye tub-the section being takenimmediately within the door thereof anda portion of the dye tub beingbroken away.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section on a reduced scale, taken on the line22, FIG. 1 of the drawings and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a multi-stage trackage arrangement foradmitting of the mounting of the fabric in the dye tub externally of thepressure vessel.

FIG. 4 is an end view, on a reduced basis, illustrating the manner ofintroducing the dye tub into the pressure vessel.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views, in perspective, of dye apparatus which may beutilized in the case of pad or jig dyeing methods.

Referring to the drawings, more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, apressure-sealable cylinder 10, for example, resting on a supportingsaddle 10', constitutes the pressure vessel or chamber in which asemi-cylindrical dye tub 11 of novel design is placed. In thisconnection, it is to be noted that it is convenient to mount the tub onwheels 12, which are designed to ride then along rails 13 located on thebottom of the pressure vessel to permit the tub to be freely introducedwithin the pressure vessel 10 and removed therefrom, as by rolling thesaid tub along the rails.

The pressure vessel 10, furthermore, is equipped with supply lines 14,15 and 16 for supplying to the tub dye, water and steam, respectively. Aperforated plate 17 may, also, be disposed along the length of the tubto prevent material from floating against the distributing piping andespecially to prevent contact with concentrated dye.

A slatted, reel 18 for the fabric and preferably of elliptical shape, ismounted on a rotatable axle 19 above the tub 11, the axle being to thisend supported rotatably on a platform member 20 in an imaginaryoff-center line along the length of the tub. The axle 19, moreover, isdesigned for connection to a power source such as the electric motor 21,FIG. 2, for rotation-the source being generally outside of the pressurevessel 10, as is indicated.

The term fabric as used herein is intended to cover a length of cloth orstrands, constituted in whole or in part of synethetic materials, aswell as sheets and films thereof. It will be noted that in FIGS. 1 and2, the fabric is placed on the slatted reel in the form of relaxed ropelike strands 22.

In the dyeing of these, a length of fabric is introduced into the dyebath 30 in the form of an endless loop 22 in open width form andtraveling in one direction; or, for a single pass, through the dye bathin open width, FIG. 5, as will hereinafter be more fully set forth.

Also, and as is indicated in FIG. 6 and hereinafter more fully setforth, several reciprocations through the dye bath may be effected.

A preferably slatted, idler cylinder 23 is carried on a furtherrotatable axle 24, which is mounted on a platform member 25 secured tothe tub; and it is disposed ac oss from reel 18 ab ve the said tub 11.The idler cylinder 23 may be rotated by the looped fabric strandsthemselves; but it is preferably power-driven, as in being connectedwith the axle 19 as through a chain drive 26 located externally of thetub 11. An intermediate folding of the rope strands or loops 22, as isindicated in FIG. 1, will then be effected as the fabric passes fromreel 18 to the floor of the tub.

A port hole 27 and one or more pressure-relief valves 28, as well as avacuum-breaker valve 28', are provided in the cylinder 10, as shown.Furthermore, an external sampling tube 29 is provided and extendstherethrough into the dye bath 30.

The dye tub 11 is provided, also, with one or more drains, as the drain32, which is positioned below a false bottom 33 and connects with anoverflow outlet gutter 34 by means of a pipe 35.

The pressure vessel 10, moreover, is equipped with an air-tight door 36,FIGS. 2 and 3, which is suitably mounted at one end of said vessel toestablish a tight fit therewith during operation.

In FIG. 2, the fabric is indicated as divided into the plurality ofrelaxed rope-like, endless strands 22, of one or more pieces, the saidstrands 22 being mounted over the reel 18 and idler 23 and arranged todip into the dye bath 30. However, the fabric strands may be either inthe form of one piece or as several pieces.

Upon sealing then the pressure vessel by the door 36, the temperature ofthe bath 11 is further elevated to the required degree, for example 250F., in the case of Dacron, by introducing steam into the sealed vesselthrough the supply line 16. Thereupon motor 21 is energized for rapidft. per minute) advance of the material through the said bath as relaxedrope strands until the desired shade is obtained.

The power source 21, as hereinbefore noted, may be carried by thepressure vessel, preferably externally thereof, as shown; and isconnected to axle 19 through a stufiing box 37 and dog clutch 38 forpower engagement.

Rake rods or bars 39 are also provided so that each rope-like strandwill pass between a set of the same and thus be prevented fromentanglement while circulating through the dye bath.

The ends of the respective strands of fabric are connected to providethe continuous endless loop which is to be passed over the rotating reel18 and idler 23, as shown. The shape of the reel, however, is notcritical; but it is desirable to provide a shape which will preventslippage of the fabric and thus insure uniform folds.

In practice the fabric is mounted on the reel and idler, and the dye tubfilled with the dyeing liquor. The temperature of the dye bath is thenpreheated to about F.212 F., for example, at a station external thepressure vessel. Also with reference being had to FIGS. 3 and 4 of thedrawings, the fabric is mounted on the tub, e.g. at station A, asaforesaid, for subsequent passage through the dye tub 11.

The tub, through its wheels 12, is supported and rides on tracks 40,which extend adjacently and parallel to the tracks 13 (not shown)located within the cylinder 10. A carriage 41 is designed to travel ontracks 42, through supporting wheels 43after receiving the dye tub 11-for delivery of said tub into the interior of pressure vessel 10. Thetracks 42 to this end are directed at right angles to the tracks 40; andan intermediate track section 44 is provided at the pressure vessel 10and aligned with the tracks 13 (not shown) therein.

It will be understood that other means (not shown) to transfer thedyeing apparatus into and out of the dyeing apparatus may be employed,for example, such as monorails or castors or the like in place of thesaid tracking arrangement shown.

When the dyeing at elevated temperatures within the pressure chamber hasbeen completed and the dye tub is to be withdrawn, the latter is broughtbeyond the pressure vessel over track section 44 onto the carriage 41;

and it may then be shifted by the latter laterally to convey the tub toafurther set of tracks 40which are located at the opposite side of thepressure vesselby moving said carriage accordingly, for furtherdisposition of the tub unit. Other types of dye tubs may, of course, besimilarly introduced.

Thus, reference being had to FIGS. 5 and 6 of. the drawings, there aredisclosed various conventional mountings of the fabric in which the sameis not-passed through a dye bath in the form of an endless loop. Forexample, in the pad type, FIG. 5, the fabric 45 taken from a supply roll46 is passed through the dye bath 47 in one pass only; and is wound upona roll 48.

In the latter figure, FIG. 6, a conventional jig type is indicatedincluding bath 50, together with advancing and take-up rolls 51, 52respectively, which are provided to reciprocate the fabric 53 throughthe dye bath 50.

It will be understood, of course, that in accordance with the invention,such units are similarly to be introduced into the pressure vessel forthe dyeing operation, and power connection made accordingly.

Also, other means (not shown) to transfer the dyeing apparatus into andout of the pressure vessel may be utilized, for example, monorails,'oastors or the like.

While the instant invention has been described in detail with referenceto particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood that variationsand modifications thereof may be practiced without departing from thespirit or scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for high temperature dyeing comprising:

(a) a pressure vessel open at one end,

(b) rail means located on the bottom of said vessel,

(0) a closure for sealing said open end vessel pressure tight,

(d) a dye bath means including a tub for containing a dye bath,

(e) wheel means mounted on said tub, said wheel means being adapted toride on said rail means to effect bodily movement of said tub int-o andout of said vessel,

(f) means for supporting a fabric on said tub,

(g) said means including a slatted reel and supports for rotatablyjournalling said reel on said tub,

(h) an idler operatively associated with said slatted reel,

(i) means for driving said reel for feeding the fabric through the dyebath, and

(j) means for introducing steam into said vessel when sealed and withtub and fabric loaded thereon in place within said vessel to elevate thetemperature of the dye bath above 212 F. and track means disposedexternally of said pressure vessel, said track means extendingsubstantially normal to the rail means located on the bottom of saidvessel,

(k) said track means being disposed at a slightly lower elevation thansaid rail means,

(l) a carriage mounted on said track means for traversing there along,

(m) said carriage means having mounted thereon complementary railsadapted to align with the rails on the bottom of said vessel,

(11) a second track means intersecting the first track means, saidsecond track means complementing the rails of said carriage whereby thedye bath thereon may be transferred from said carriage to said secondrail means.

2. An apparatus for high temperature dyeing of synthetic fabricscomprising:

(a) a pressure vessel open at one end,

(b) a closure adapted to seal said one end pressure tight,

(0) a dye bath means adapted to be bodily moved into and out of saidpressure vessel,

(d) said dye bath means including a tub for containing the dye bath,

(e) a perforated plate spaced inwardly from the walls of the tub,

(f) a slatted reel for supporting and feeding the-fabrics to be dyedthrough the dye bath,

(g) means for rotatably supporting said reel above said tub,

(h) a slatted idler operatively associated with said reel for feedingthe fabric,

(i) means for driving said reel for feeding said fabrics to said dyebath,

(j) said latter means including a motor disposed exterior of saidpressure vessel,

(k) clutch means for detachably connecting said reel in drivingrelationship with said motor means,

(1) wheels mounted on said tub,

(in) rail means located on the bottom of said pressure vessel on whichsaid tub wheels ride for enhancing the positioning of the tub into andout of said vessel,

(11) and track means disposed externally of said pressure vessel,

(0) said track means extending substantially normal to the rail meanslocated on the bottom of the vessel,

(p) said track means being disposed at a slightly lower elevation thanthe rail means in said pressure vessel,

(q) a carriage mounted on said track means for traversing there along,

(r) said carriage means having mounted thereon complementary railsadapted to align with the rails on the bottom of said vessel, and

(s) a second track means intersecting said first track means, saidsecond track means complementing the rails of said carriage whereby thedye bath thereon may be transferred from said carriage to said secondrail means.

3. An apparatus for high temperature dyeing of synthetic fabricscomprising:

(a) a pressure vessel open at one end,

(b) a closure for sealing the open end of said pressure vessel pressuretight,

(c) a dye bath means adapted to be moved bodily into and out of thepressure vessel,

(d) said dye bath means including a tub for containing a dye bath,

(e) a perforated plate spaced inwardly from the wall of the tub,

(f) a slatted reel for supporting and feeding fabric in rope strand formthrough the dye bath,

(g) means for rotatably supporting said reel above said tub,

(h) a slatted idler cooperatively associated with said reel for feedingfabric in rope strand form,

(i) means for driving said feeding reel for feeding said fabric in ropestrand form through the dye bath, (j) said driving means including amotor disposed exterior of said pressure vessel,

(k) clutch means for detachably connecting said reel in drivingrelationship with said motor means,

(1) Wheels mounted on said tub,

(in) rail means located on the bottom of said pressure vessel on whichsaid tub wheels ride for enhancing the positioning of the tub in and outof said vessel,

(n) and track means disposed externally of said pressure vessel, withsaid track means extending normal to the rail means located on thebottom of the vessel,

(0) said track means being disposed at a slightly lower elevation thanthe rail means in said pressure vessel,

(p) a carriage mounted on said track means for traversing therealong,

(q) said carriage means having mounted thereon complementary railsadapted to align with the rails on the bottom of said vessel,

(r) a second track means intersecting said first track means, saidsecond track means complementing the rails of said carriage whereby thedye bath thereon may be transferred from said carriage to said secondrail means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 755,050 3/04Schirp 68210 X 2/29 Cole 68--177 X 2/55 Jacobs 685.3 10/58 Etfinger685.3 X

4/ 61 Fahringer. 4/62 Brown 68177 FOREIGN PATENTS 7/07 Germany.

10 IRVING BUNEVICH, Primary Examiner.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Examiner.

1. AN APPARATUS FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE DYEING COMPRISING: (A) A PRESSURE VESSEL OPEN AT ONE END, (B) RAIL MEANS LOCATED ON THE BOTTOM OF SAID VESSEL, (C) A CLOSURE FOR SEALING SAID OPEN END VESSEL PRESSURE TIGHT, (D) A DYE BATH MEANS INCLUDING A TUB FOR CONTAINING A DYE BATH, (E) WHEEL MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID TUB, SAID WHEEL MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO RIDE ON SAID RAIL MEANS TO EFFECT BODILY MOVEMENT OF SAID TUB INTO AND OUT OF SAID VESSEL, (F) MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A FABRIC ON SAID TUB, (G) SAID MEANS INCLUDING A SLATTED REEL AND SUPPORTS FOR ROTATABLY JOURNALLING SAID REEL ON SAID TUB, (H) AN IDLER OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID SLATTED REEL, (I) MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID REEL FOR FEEDING THE FABRIC THROUGH THE DYE BATH, AND (J) MEANS FOR INTRODUCING STEAM INTO SAID VESSEL WHEN SEALED AND WITH TUB AND FABRIC LOADED THEREON IN PLACE WITHIN SAID VESSEL TO ELEVATE THE TEMPERATURE OF THE DYE BATH ABOVE 212*F. AND TRACK MEANS DISPOSED EXTERNALLY OF SAID PRESSURE VESSEL, SAID TRACK MEANS EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE RAIL MEANS LOCATED ON THE BOTTOM OF SAID VESSEL, (K) SAID TRACK MEANS BEING DISPOSED AT A SLIGHTLY LOWER ELEVATION THAN SAID RAIL MEANS, (L) A CARRIAGE MOUNTED ON SAID TRACK MEANS FOR TRAVERSING THERE ALONG, (M) SAID CARRIAGE MEANS HAVING MOUNTED THEREON COMPLEMENTARY RAILS ADAPTED TO ALIGN WITH THE RAILS ON THE BOTTOM OF SAID VESSEL, (N) A SECOND TRACK MEANS INTERSECTING THE FIRST TRACK MEANS, SAID SECOND TRACK MEANS COMPLEMENTING THE RAILS OF SAID CARRIAGE WHEREBY THE DYE BATH THEREON MAY BE TRANSFERRED FROM SAID CARRIAGE TO SAID SECOND RAIL MEANS. 